Footplate for skis, snowshoes, and the like



' May 30, 1944. J. H. RINKINEN FOOT PLATE FOR SKIS, SNOWSHOES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 4, 194.3 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y J. H. RINKINEN 2,350,130

FOOT PLATE FOR SKIS, SNOWSHOES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 4, 1943 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Inventor y 1944- J. H. RINKINEN 2,350,130 FOOT PLATE FOR SKIS, SNOWSHOES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 4. 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor @222, Emzz' By W FMW May 30, 1944. J. H. RINKINEN FOOT PLATE FOR SKIS SNOWSHOES AND THE LIKE Filed March 4, 1943 4 she ts-sheet 4 Inventor kz'nerv Jim 75:

Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED sT Tas racism OFFICE FOOTPLATE FOR SKIS, SNOW SHOES, AND THE LIKE John H. Rinkinen, Atlantic Mine, Mich.

Application March 4, 1943, Serial No. 477,987

5, Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in skis and snowshoes, and has for its primary object to provide a plate for the foot of a person constructed of a series of laminations including a rigid metal plate, on top of which is positioned a plurality of rubber plates, the latter being formed into an inflatable bag having an air valve attached thereto, the inflatable rubber member embodying cushioning means for the foot and also serving to prevent the formation of ice or snow on the upper surface of the plate.

A further object is to provide a foot plateof this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in performance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which- Figure l is a top plan view of a ski showing the plate secured thereto,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on a line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the top cover for the foot plate,

Figure 5 is a similar view of the metal reinforcing plate,

1Figure 6 is a similar view of the bottom rubber p ate,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the rubber valve tubing and connection means with the inflatable bag formed in the plate,

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a snowshoe showing the plate in position thereon,

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the plate shown in Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough,

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the top cover for the assembled plate, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the reinforcing metal plate,

Referring now to the drawings in detail and with particular reference to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a ski of conventional construction having the straps 5 secured thereto and projecting from opposite sides to secure the foot of a person on the ski. The foot plate is designated generally at l and is constructed of an elongated bottom rubber plate 8 of sheet material upon which is superposed'a rigid metallic plate 9 of relativelythin sheet metal and of an area slightly less than the area of the plate 8. j

Positioned upon the metal plate 9 is apair of sheet rubber plates Ill and l I, respectively, coextensive in area with thebottom rubber plate 8. A rubber cover I2 is positioned on top of the rubber plates I0 and II, said cover plate being of increased area so that its side edges cover the side'edges of the plates 8, I0 and l I, as shown at l3, and also adapted to have its edge portions extended inwardly and under the bottomlplate 9,

as shown at. l

The marginal edges of the plate are secured to the ski '5 by means of nails or the like [5 which penetrate the cover plate l2, therubber plates 10 and H and the bottom rubber plate 8, as well as the inturned edge portions,. as more, clearly shown in Figurefi of they drawings.

At the rear end of the assembled plate, is a rubber inflating tube l6 having a flat flared end I! adapted for insertion between the plates It and I I and cemented, vulcanized or otherwise fixedly secured therein. Accordingly, air may be supplied to the chamber I8 formed between the plates I0 and H by means of a suitable hand pump or the like, for the purpose of inflating the bag formed by the plates [0 and Il. A removable plug I9 is inserted in the tube It in order to prevent escape of the air therefrom.

The rear edge portion of the cover plate i2 is formed with a notch to accommodate the tube 16 when said edge portion is folded under.

The air tube It is enclosed within a canvas or cloth bag 2| having its edge portion secured to the cover plate [2 as well as to the bottom plate 8, the bag 2| being provided with an opening 22 adapted to be closed by a zipper fastener 23.

The inturned edge portion M of the cover l2 may be provided with an adhesive coating 24 to secure the same to the upper surface of the ski 5.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 to 12 inclusive the foot plate 25 is shown attached in position on a snowshoe 25 and in this form of the invention the foot plate comprises a bottom rubber plate 28 upon which the metallic plate 29 is positioned, the plate 29 having positioned thereon a cloth or canvas plate til upon the latter of which is positioned the inflatable envelope 3| formed of double upper and lower layers of sheet rubber 32 and 33.

Extending around the marginal edges of the metal plate 29 is an upwardly rolled edge 34 forming a channel within which is seated a wire member 35. The wire 35 has extensions 36 projecting laterally from each front corner of the plate and to which is secured a strap attaching ring 31.

The cover plate of rubber is shown at 38 and is of sufiicient length to be doubled upon itself to provide a bottom 21 which is positioned under the bottom plate 28, as shown in Figure 10. The side edges 39 cover the side edges of the remaining plates, except the bottommost plate 21 and the side edge portions of the cover plate are inserted inwardly between the bottom plates 21 1. A foot plate of the class described comprising a plurality of sheets of rubber, a rigid sheet of material beneath said rubber sheets, attaching means at the edge portions of said sheets to secure the same in superposed relation and an inflatable tube interposed between said sheets of rubber.

2. A foot plate of the class described comprising a rigid plate, a pair of rubber plates mounted in superposed relation on said rigid plate, a flexible cover plate having its edge portion enclosing the edges of said first named plate, the said edge portion extending under said plate, attaching means at the edges of said plate to secure the same to a supporting structure and an inflatable tube attached between said rubber plates.

and 28, as shown more clearly in Figure 9 of the drawings. The side edges 39 of the cover late also cover the rolled edge 34 of the metal plate.

and for securing the sections of the foot plate in assembled relation.

Secured to the envelope 3| is the inflating tube 42 which also includes the flattened flared portion 43 and is provided with the plug 44. The inflating tube is also enclosed within the cloth casing 45 also having the zipper opening 46 in its edge portion.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the foot of the personfis secured in position on top of the plate and due to the -constantly yielding action of the plate ice and snow is prevented from forming thereon and which ordinarily causes considerable annoyance and inconvenience tothe wearer of the skis or snowshoes. Also the inflatable bag or envelope provides a cushion base for the foot plate to add to'the comfort of the wearer. 1

It is believed the details of construction, operation and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

3. A foot plate of the class described comprising a rigid plate, a pair of rubber plates mounted in superposed relation on said rigid plate, a flexible cover plate having its edge portion enclosing the edges of said first named plate, the said edge portion extending under said plate, attaching means at the edges of said plate to secure the same to a supporting structure and an inflatable tube attached between said rubber plates, and a flexible casing for said inflatable tube secured to said cover plate.

4. A foot plate of the class'described comprising a metallic plate, a plurality of rubber plates mounted in superposed relation on said metallic plate, a flexible cover plate having edge portions extending over the edges of said first named plate and under the metallic plate, said plate having aligned openings adjacent the edges thereof, flexible attaching members inserted through said openings for attaching the assembled Plates to a supporting structure, and an inflatable tube between a pair of superposed rubber plates to form an air chamber.

5. In a snowshoe having a rigid frame, a mesh structure within the frame and an inflatable foot plate having openings at its edge portion for receiving the strands of said mesh structure for attaching the foot plate thereto.

JOHN H. RINKINEN. 

